Apparatus for transferring poultry carcasses

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for transferring poultry carcasses from a first overhead conveyor to a second overhead conveyor, in which overhead conveyors the carcasses are transported suspended from shackles and the like, comprising a transfer wheel rotatable about a vertical axis and positioned between both overhead conveyors, which wheel is provided with holders for the carcasses and with first means for transferring the carcasses from the first overhead conveyor to the transfer wheel and with second means for transferring the carcasses from the transfer wheel to the second overhead conveyor, orientation means further being present for equalizing the spacial initial orientation of the carcass in the holder at receipt on the transfer wheel and the spacial final orientation of the carcass in the holder at its discharge from the transfer wheel.

[0001] The invention relates to an apparatus for transferring poultrycarcasses from a first overhead conveyor to a second overhead conveyor.

[0002] Such transfer apparatuses are among others known from Europeanpatent application 0.259.920 and from U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,453,045 and5,672,098, the contents of which being included in this text byreference.

[0003] The poultry, chicken or turkeys, hanging upside down from theirlegs or knees in hangers are transferred here from the one overheadconveyor, for instance a cooling line, by means of one or more transferwheels to a subsequent overhead conveyor, for instance a drip conveyor.Both conveyors can be situated in line with each other, but also at anangle, for instance 90 degrees.

[0004] It is of importance here which rotation direction both overheadconveyors have with respect to each other. Depending on that an even orodd number of transfer wheels have to be deployed. When the rotationdirection is opposite, an odd number of transfer wheels is necessary,the orientation of the carcasses with respect to the line remaining thesame. In case of a same rotation direction an even number is necessary,the orientation of the carcasses with respect to the line beingreversed. In each case there is question of a central transfer wheel andone or several transfer wheels placed between the central transfer wheeland one or both conveyors, for correction of the rotation direction ofthe carcasses and/or for synchronisation.

[0005] For the slaughter process the orientation of the carcass is ofimportance. For the one treatment it is for instance necessary that thecarcass is transported with the breast forward through the processingstation in question, for another treatment an orientation with thebreast to the outside is desirable.

[0006] Usually hangers are used the orientation of which with respect tothe process path or conveyor is fixed. There are hangers available thatare provided with means for rotating the hanger with respect to thetrolley in question moving past the conveyor to which trolley the hangeris attached. Such hangers, however, require an additional investment,and moreover are not always suitable to be accommodated in an existingslaughter line.

[0007] It is an object of the invention to provide a provision withwhich also with the usual “fixed” hangers or leg shackles theorientation of the carcass can be changed, in particular near thetransition from the one overhead conveyor to the next overhead conveyor.

[0008] From one aspect the invention to that end provides an apparatusfor transferring poultry carcasses from a first overhead conveyor to asecond overhead conveyor, in which overhead conveyors the carcasses aretransported suspended from shackles and the like, comprising a transferwheel rotatable about a vertical axis and positioned between bothoverhead conveyors, which wheel is provided with holders for thecarcasses and with first means for transferring the carcasses from thefirst overhead conveyor to the transfer wheel and with second means fortransferring the carcasses from the transfer wheel to the secondoverhead conveyor, orientation means further being present forequalizing the spacial initial orientation of the carcass in the holderat receipt on the transfer wheel and the spacial final orientation ofthe carcass in the holder at its discharge from the transfer wheel tothe second overhead conveyor. In this way it is achieved that theabsolute orientation of the carcass during transfer by the transferwheel can stay unaltered, but that also the orientation with respect tothe transfer wheel will change, and for instance the carcass beingreceived on the transfer wheel with breast radially oriented to theinside and being discharged with the breast radially to the outside, totake up an ideal position for the next treatment.

[0009] Preferably the orientation means are adapted for keeping thespacial orientation of the carcass in the holder constant during thetransport on the transfer wheel. In that case the transfer to the secondconveyor can take place at any given point along the circumference ofthe transfer wheel, and an arrangement with several, second overheadconveyors to be selectively provided with carcasses can be realised.

[0010] Preferably the holders are bearing mounted in the transfer wheelto be rotatable about themselves about a vertical axis. It isfurthermore preferred here that the orientation means are adapted forrelative rotation of the holders with respect to the transfer wheel,preferably for letting the holders rotate 1:1 with the transfer wheel.

[0011] In a further development of the apparatus according to theinvention the orientation means comprise first orientation means fororienting a first of the holders, and second orientation means fororienting others of the holders, which second orientation means areoperated by the first orientation means, in which way a simplesequential drive of the holders is thus realised.

[0012] It is preferred here that the first orientation means comprise afirst driving disc provided on the first holder, a second driving discplaced loosely on the axis but retained in spacial orientation, and adriving belt or driving chain running around both, the diameter of bothdriving discs preferably being equal.

[0013] In order to always guarantee a pure orientation of the holders,even after a longer operative time, it is preferred that the orientationmeans are further provided with a tension pulley for the driving belt ordriving chain.

[0014] In a further development of the orientation means the secondorientation means comprise a first toothed wheel that is attached to thefirst holder in a rotatably fixed manner, a central toothed wheel freelyrotatable on the axis and driven by the first toothed wheel, as well assecond toothed wheels attached in a rotatably fixed manner to everyother holder, which second toothed wheels are in driving engagement withthe central toothed wheel and preferably have a diameter that is equalto the one of the first toothed wheel.

[0015] From another aspect the invention provides an apparatus fortransferring poultry carcasses from a first overhead conveyor to asecond overhead conveyor, in which overhead conveyors the carcasses aretransported suspended from shackles and the like, comprising a transferwheel rotatable about a vertical axis and positioned between bothoverhead conveyors, which wheel is provided with holders for thecarcasses and with first means for transferring the carcasses from thefirst overhead conveyor to the transfer wheel and with second means fortransferring the carcasses from the transfer wheel to the secondoverhead conveyor, orientation means further being present for rotatingthe holders with respect to the transfer wheel during the transport ofthe holders by the transfer wheel.

[0016] Preferably the orientation means are adapted for 1:1 rotation ofthe holders and the transfer wheel.

[0017] From a further aspect the invention provides a holder forsuspended transport of a poultry carcass, provided with accommodationspaces for the legs of the carcass, the accommodation spaces eachforming a continuous slit in horizontal direction. In this way it isachieved that the carcass can be discharged from the holder in adirection which is the same as the direction of insertion of the carcassinto the holder. As a result rotation of the holder can be dispensedwith under conditions.

[0018] Preferably the distance between the accommodation spaces at theirone end is different from the distance therebetween at their other end.In this way in a transfer wheel with such holders a fluent, and possiblydirect accommodation/transfer of the carcasses becomes possible in casethe distance between the legs in the hangers of the first overheadconveyor is different from the one of the hangers of the second overheadconveyor.

[0019] The invention further provides an apparatus of the aforementionedtype, provided with such holders.

[0020] The invention further provides a method as described in thisapplication.

[0021] The invention will be elucidated on the basis of the exemplaryembodiment shown in the attached drawings, in which:

[0022]FIG. 1A schematically shows a top view of transfer apparatusaccording to the invention, placed between two overhead conveyors;

[0023]FIG. 1B schematically shows a top view of a transfer apparatusaccording to the invention, placed between two overhead conveyors, inalternative arrangement;

[0024]FIG. 2 shows a top view of a transfer wheel of an apparatusaccording to the invention;

[0025]FIG. 3 shows a top view inclined from above of a part of thetransfer wheel of FIG. 2;

[0026]FIG. 4 shows a side view of the transfer wheel of the FIGS. 2 and3;

[0027]FIG. 5 schematically shows a vertical cross-section of thearrangement of the transfer wheel according to the FIGS. 2-4;

[0028]FIG. 6A schematically shows a vertical cross-section of a firstholder for the transfer wheel of the preceding figures;

[0029]FIG. 6B schematically shows a vertical cross-section of a secondholder for the transfer wheel according to FIGS. 2-5; and

[0030]FIGS. 7A and 7B show a front view and a top view, respectively, ofthe hanging part of a holder for an apparatus according to theinvention.

[0031] In FIG. 1A a transfer apparatus 1 is shown, by means of whichcarcasses, supplied on a first overhead conveyor 2, for instance acooling conveyor, are supplied in the direction A, suspended fromhangers 8 on a transport line, such as a rail and/or a chain 3. Theoverhead conveyor 2 is turned about rotation wheel 4, the carcassesbeing transferred from the overhead conveyor 2 onto transfer wheel 12 ofthe transfer apparatus 10 at the location of transfer station 40. At thedownstream side of the transfer apparatus 10 a second overhead conveyor5 is placed, for instance a drip conveyor, having a transport line 6 anda rotation wheel 7, along which the holders 9 transported with thetransport line 6 are moved in the direction C, past transfer station 50,where the carcasses from the transfer apparatus 10 are received.

[0032] The transfer apparatus 10 here is substantially shown with arotation axis 13 and a transfer wheel 12, on which the carcass holders11 are supported to rotate along in the direction B.

[0033] Other arrangements are conceivable, such as shown in FIG. 1B,wherein between the turning wheel 4 and the transfer wheel 12 and/orbetween the turning wheel 7 and the transfer wheel 12 simple transferwheels 7 a, 7 b, at their edges provided with notches for accommodationof the legs of the carcasses, have been placed, for reversing thedirection of rotation of the path of the carcasses and/or alteration inthe pitch between the carcasses. The synchronisation means necessary forit and the driving means are not further discussed here. They are knownper se to the expert, referring as well to U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,453,045 and52,672,098, as well as European patent application 0.259.920, allincorporated herein by reference.

[0034] In FIG. 2 a detail of the arrangement of FIG. 1B is schematicallyshown with transfer wheel 12 placed between two transfer wheels 7 a and7 b, which themselves are contiguous to the first and second conveyors 2and 5, respectively.

[0035] In the example of the figures sixteen holders 11 are rotatablysupported on the transfer wheel 12. It here regards fifteen identicalholders 11 b and one different holder 11 a, shown in FIGS. 6B and 6A,respectively. The holder 11 a comprises a vertical axis 20 a, which bymeans of bearings 23 a is rotatably bearing mounted in the transferwheel 12. As can be seen in FIG. 5, the transfer wheel 12 is connectedto the axis 13 in a rotatably fixed manner. In its turn said axis 13 isconnected to a disc 14 in a rotatably fixed manner, which disc 14 at itscircumference is provided with a toothing 15. Via said toothing 15 theaxis 13 is driven, for instance by coupling to one or both drives of theoverhead conveyor, possible through the intermediary of synchronisationmeans.

[0036] On the axis 13 there furthermore is a chain wheel 18, that isrelatively rotatable with respect to the axis 13, but which is stoppedfrom rotating by a means that is not further shown. On the holder 11 a,particularly at the upper end of the axis 20 a, a chain wheel 16 isattached in a rotatably fixed manner, a chain 27 running around thechain wheels 6 and 18, as can be seen in FIG. 5. A chain tensioner 19(also see FIG. 2) is provided here for keeping the chain 17 at the righttension. The chain transfer 15 with chain wheel 16 and chain 17, andalso chain tensioner 19, are shielded to the outside and upwards bymeans of a hood 26, as can also be seen in FIG. 3.

[0037] Below the chain wheel 16 a toothed wheel 24 a is attached to theaxis 20 a in an also rotatably fixed manner. Said toothed wheel 24 a ismeshed with a toothing 25 a at the circumference of a large centraltoothed wheel 25 (also see FIG. 3), which central toothed wheel 25 iscoaxial with and freely rotatable with respect to the axis 13.

[0038] The other holders 11 b are substantially equal to the holder 11a, but they are not provided with a chain wheel 16. They are also meshedwith the teeth of their toothed wheel 24 b with the toothing 25 a of thecentral toothed wheel 25.

[0039] In this example the toothed wheels 24 a, 24 b have twenty-nineteeth, with a diameter of the pitch circle of 116 mm, and the centraltoothed wheel 25 has one hundred and seventy-six teeth, with a diameterof the pitch circle of 704 mm.

[0040] When the disc 14 and thus the axis 13 is rotated in the directionB, the transfer wheel 12 will also rotate along. In that way also theholders 11 a, 11 b are taken along in rotation. As a result the chainwheel 16 is taken along as well, by the holder 11 a. Because the chainwheel 16 is connected to the chain wheel 18 via chain wheel 17, and saidchain wheel 18 does not rotate along, the chain wheel 16 will counterrotate in the direction D (also see FIG. 1A). Because the diameters ofthe chain wheels 16 and 18 are equal, the spacial orientation of theholder 11 a will not change during rotation of the transfer wheel 12.

[0041] The holder 11 a will however rotate relatively with respect tothe transfer wheel 12. Said rotational movement is transferred to thecentral toothed wheel 25 which because of the mesh with the holders 11is taken along in the direction G (coinciding with the direction ofrotation B), but rotating a little faster. Because of the mesh of thetoothed wheels 24 b of the holders 11 b with the toothing 25 a of thecentral toothed wheel 25, the holders 11 b are also rotated with respectto the transfer wheel 12, in exactly the same degree and in the exactsame direction as the holder 11 a.

[0042] As can be seen in FIGS. 1A and 2 the spacial orientation of theholders 11 here remains the same, and thus of the carcasses suspended inthe holders 11. In this way during transferring the carcasses from thefirst conveyor to the second conveyor, two birds are killed with onestone, because in that way it is also achieved that the carcasses aretransferred to the second conveyor in the orientation suitable for thenext treatment. In that way separate rotation means for the holders onthe second conveyor 5 can be dispensed with. The transfer apparatus 10in this way is very suitable to be deployed in—existing—slaughter lineswith hangers that are not rotatable in themselves.

[0043] In the FIGS. 7A and 7B a hanger 21 is shown which is particularlysuitable for the holder 11.

[0044] The hanger 21 is attached to the lower end of the axis 20, in arotatably fixed manner. The hanger comprises an inverted U-shapedshackle 27, at the lower ends of which narrow horizontal plates 30 arefixedly attached. At the insertion end the narrow plates 30 have beenprovided with inclined upwardly extending ends 33, and at the dischargeside with flat ends 34.

[0045] In the middle a rod 28 extends downwards from the axis 20 whichis fixedly attached to it, at the lower end of which rod a plate 29 isfixedly attached, which also at the insertion side is turned upwardlyinclined with portions 32 and at the discharge end has a flat end member35.

[0046] Between the plates 30 and the plate 29 thus two endless passages31 have been formed. The legs of a carcass are inserted in thatdirection E, at the location of the transfer station 40. The inclinedturned end portions 32 and 33 prevent that the legs can move back.During rotation of the transfer wheel 12 the carcass is suspended fromthe hangers 21 with the leg ends supported on the edges of the passages31. Arrived at the transfer station 50 the legs are engaged with asuitable means and urged in the direction F out of the passages 31, inorder to be accommodated in the holders of hangers of the secondconveyor 5.

[0047] The distances X and Y between the access openings of the passages31 situated on either side may differ from each other, in order to fitthe (then different) leg distance in the hangers of the overheadconveyors situated near the opening in question.

[0048] It is to be understood that the above description is included toillustrate the operation of the preferred embodiments and is not meantto limit the scope of the invention. The scope of the invention is to belimited only by the following claims. From the above discussion, manyvariations will be apparent to one skilled in the art that would yet beencompassed by the spirit and scope of the present invention.

1. Apparatus for transferring poultry carcasses from a first overheadconveyor to a second overhead conveyor, in which overhead conveyors thecarcasses are transported suspended from shackles and the like,comprising a transfer wheel rotatable about a vertical axis andpositioned between both overhead conveyors, which wheel is provided withholders for the carcasses and with first means for transferring thecarcasses from the first overhead conveyor to the transfer wheel andwith second means for transferring the carcasses from the transfer wheelto the second overhead conveyor, orientation means further being presentfor equalizing the spacial initial orientation of the carcass in theholder at receipt on the transfer wheel and the spacial finalorientation of the carcass in the holder at its discharge from thetransfer wheel.
 2. Apparatus according to claim 1, the orientation meansbeing adapted for keeping the spacial orientation of the carcass in theholder constant during the transport on the transfer wheel.
 3. Apparatusaccording to claim 2, the holders being bearing mounted in the transferwheel to be rotatable about themselves about a vertical axis. 4.Apparatus according to claim 3, the orientation means being adapted forrelative rotation of the holders with respect to the transfer wheel. 5.Apparatus according to claim 4, the orientation means being adapted forletting the holders rotate 1:1 with the transfer wheel.
 6. Apparatusaccording to claim 4, the orientation means comprising first orientationmeans for orienting a first of the holders, and second orientation meansfor orienting others of the holders, which second orientation means areoperated by the first orientation means.
 7. Apparatus according to claim6, the first orientation means comprising a first driving disc providedon the first holder, a second driving disc placed loosely on the axisbut retained in spacial orientation, and a driving belt or driving chainrunning circumferentially about both.
 8. Apparatus according to claim 7,the diameter of both driving discs being equal.
 9. Apparatus accordingto claim 7, further provided with a tension pulley for the driving beltor driving chain.
 10. Apparatus according to claim 6, the secondorientation means comprising a first toothed wheel that is attached tothe first holder in a rotatably fixed manner, a central toothed wheelfreely rotatable on the axis and driven by the first toothed wheel, aswell as second toothed wheels attached in a rotatably fixed manner toevery other holder, which second toothed wheels are in drivingengagement with the central toothed wheel.
 11. Apparatus according toclaim 10, the second toothed wheels having a diameter that is equal tothe one of the first toothed wheel.
 12. Apparatus for transferringpoultry carcasses from a first overhead conveyor to a second overheadconveyor, in which overhead conveyors the carcasses are transportedsuspended from shackles and the like, comprising a transfer wheelrotatable about a vertical axis and positioned between both overheadconveyors, which wheel is provided with holders for the carcasses andwith first means for transferring the carcasses from the first overheadconveyor to the transfer wheel and with second means for transferringthe carcasses from the transfer wheel to the second overhead conveyor,orientation means further being present for rotating the holders withrespect to the transfer wheel during the transport of the holders by thetransfer wheel.
 13. Apparatus according to claim 12, the orientationmeans being adapted for 1:1 rotation of the holders and the transferwheel.
 14. Holder for suspended transport of a poultry carcass, providedwith accommodation spaces for the legs of the carcass, the accommodationspaces each forming a continuous slit in horizontal direction, thedistance between the accommodation spaces at their one end beingdifferent from the distance therebetween at their other end.
 15. Holderaccording to claim 14, inclined turned end members being arranged oneither side of one end of the accommodation spaces to preventunintentional backwards movement of the legs.
 16. Holder according toclaim 14, the distance between the accommodation spaces being larger atsaid one end than at said other end, inclined turned end members beingarranged on either side of said one end of the accommodation spaces toprevent unintentional backwards movement of the legs out of said oneend.
 17. Apparatus according to claim 1, the holders being provided withaccommodation spaces for the legs of the carcass, the accommodationspaces each forming a continuous horizontal slit.
 18. Apparatusaccording to claim 17, in the holders the distance between theaccommodation spaces at their one end being different from the distancetherebetween at their other end.
 19. Apparatus according to claim 12,the holders being provided with accommodation spaces for the legs of thecarcass, the accommodation spaces each forming a continuous slit inhorizontal direction.
 20. Apparatus according to claim 19, in theholders the distance between the accommodation spaces at their one endbeing different from the distance therebetween at their other end.